PEOPLE in relationships across North Yorkshire who are concerned about domestic violence this Valentine's Day have been urged to contact a local charity.

The Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS), launched their Have A Heart campaign this month, to encourage people to be aware of the signs of domestic abuse and is encouraging supporters to download a badge, or 'twibbon', to their social media profiles to help share the campaign.

Sarah Hill, director of IDAS, said: "It's about saying to people that at this lovely happy time of the year there are thousands of people living with unhealthy and unhappy relationships and pleading with them to come forward and get support.

"We don't want to be miserable, but not everyone has an ideal relationship and Valentine's Day can be pressured time of the year when you're supposed to be living in a perfect idyll with chocolates and flowers, but that's not necessarily the case. We're trying to raise that issue and make people aware."

A national crime survey in 2013 showed 50 per cent of people affected by domestic abuse reported to a friend, neighbour or family member in the first instance, and the campaign aims to help make access to support outside that circle even easier.

Andrew Overton, from Northallerton, is supporting the campaign, after his sister Rebecca was murdered by her partner.

He said: "I know what it’s like to deal with a mother and father in the immediacy of devastating news that they have lost their only daughter through this horrendous act. I know what it’s like to tell my sister’s friends and relations that she is no longer with us and I know what it’s like to see an eight-year-old girl, so devastated, so emotional and so much destroyed because she has lost her mother.

"I saw the signs, I knew something was wrong but I wanted to believe that everything would be ok, I wanted to believe that she would come to me if there was anything wrong, but to be honest I didn’t know what to do. My message is quite simple – if there are signs of domestic abuse, if you suspect domestic abuse is happening, if you even think that someone may be affected by domestic abuse then pick up the phone, send an email, just get in touch with IDAS and listen to and act upon the advice that the professionals at IDAS give you. If only I had had the foresight to do this when my sister was alive then maybe she would still be alive today."

To find out more about IDAS go to idas.org.uk and a 24-hour helpline for anyone affected by domestic abuse is available on 0808 2000247.